The School Counseling department would like to welcome all of our Bennett families back to school! We are very excited to start the new year together. Miss Flaherty is especially excited to be working with two new counselors this year. Mrs. Jefferson will be joining us from Alvey Elementary on Wednesdays and Thursdays and Mrs. Smith will joining us from Westridge Elementary and she will be here on Mondays.

Be on the lookout for your Bear Claw newsletter from the counseling department in the coming weeks as well as information on small groups with the counselor. We are looking forward to working with you and your child this year. We have a lot of exciting things in store. Please let us know if we can be of assistance in the coming school year.

We are pleased to announce that Bennett's School Counseling Program has earned RAMP. RAMP stands for recognized ASCA Model Program. What this means is that our school is a model program for other schools across the United States.

Small groups with the counselors will start around the beginning of October. Small groups are focused on learning skills that students need to be successful. Information on groups that are offered by the School Counseling Department can be found in the "Groups" folder below, and should be sent home with your student very soon. Group subjects include Friendship, Study Skills, Success, Self-Control, Deployment Support, Grief, and Changing Families. We also develop additional groups to meet the needs of our students when appropriate. If you are interested in having your child participate in one of these groups, or have questions about the groups, please contact Erin Flaherty at flaheree@pwcs.edu.  

Updated and approved by Bennett's School Counseling Advisory Council 10.6.2009

• All students can achieve with access to resources
• All students’ dignity and culture is respected and valued
• All students will have access to a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate, and culturally aware school counseling program run by masters level, state certified, professional school counselors
• The school counselors will proactively act as advocates for all students, including collaborating with stakeholders for needed systemic change
• The school counselors will lead a collaborative effort to design, implement, assess, and continuously improve the comprehensive, data driven school counseling program
• The school counselors will collaborate with families, stakeholders, and community resources to assist student development
• The school counselors will abide by the American School Counseling Association’s professional school counseling ethics
• The school counselors will engage in professional development including regular supervision and activities to enhance cultural competency in order to address the changing community.

Updated and approved by Bennett's School Counseling Advisory Council 10.6.2009